ADV Romania and AFIN, together for an inclusive European financing ecosystem. Meaningful financing, impactful policies: ADV and AFIN at MICROFUTURE in Slovenia
The Future of Microfinance: Social Inclusion and Sustainable Entrepreneurship through Effective Public Policies
Microfinance refers to a set of essential financial services designed for individuals who face difficulties accessing traditional credit, particularly in the early stages of starting a business.** Its potential is significant: it can foster social inclusion, stimulate entrepreneurship, create jobs, and support the transition to sustainable economic models.
ADV Romania, alongside OIR PECU Bucharest-Ilfov, at the 5th interregional MICROFUTURE meeting in Slovenia!
On May 21–22, 2025, at the invitation of OIR PECU Bucharest-Ilfov – the leader of the MICROFUTURE project – our colleague Manuela Iftimoaei, Director of European Programs at ADV Romania, participated in the fifth interregional meeting held in Kamnik, Slovenia.
The event brought together partners from Romania, Italy, Slovenia, Sweden, and France in a joint effort to improve public policies supporting the financing of social enterprises and promoting social inclusion through microfinance.
Day 1 was dedicated to working sessions, discussions on legislation and calls for social enterprises (with the participation of the Slovenian Ministry of Economy), and the presentation of the policy checklist coordinated by partners from Romania, Italy, Slovenia, Sweden, and France.
Day 2 was a practical learning experience, including visits to two remarkable examples of social enterprises in Slovenia:
KNOF (Krško) – a circular economy hub featuring a second-hand boutique, a showroom with refurbished furniture, and an innovation lab that transforms waste into eco-friendly solutions! The hands-on workshop using the Simple Business Model provided concrete ideas for sustainable development.
ETRI Group & “Pod strehco” Association (Ljubljana) – a collective of enterprises promoting social inclusion through urban farming, recycling, community cooking, and green initiatives.
The event contributed to the exchange of ideas, best practices, and proposals for improving microfinance policies, reinforcing the mission of the MICROFUTURE project to support social inclusion through responsible entrepreneurship.
💬 “It is clear that the future of microfinance must be built around a strong territorial network, personalized support services, and enhanced institutional capacity for non-bank actors, such as AFIN in Romania,” emphasized Manuela Iftimoaei following the event.
🔧 În România, AFIN oferă soluții concrete prin produse precum:
AFIN PUNTE – pentru acoperirea decalajelor de cash flow în proiecte cu fonduri nerambursabile;
AFIN CAPITAL – pentru finanțarea activității curente;
AFIN INVEST – pentru achiziții, echipamente sau dezvoltări sustenabile.
